Venetian blind construction



March 6 J. NISENSON VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed001;. 19, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

March 13, 1956 J. NISENSON VENEQTIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Oct. 19, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Jules Nisenson, Croton-on-fiudson, N. Y. Application October 19, 1951, Serial No. 252,032

1 Claim. (Cl. 160-170) This invention relates generally to the art ofVenetian blinds, and more particularly to an improved means for raisingand lowering the slats thereof.

The prior constructions of blinds of this type have been operated bymeans of two controls, one of the controls serving to tilt theindividual slats without vertically displacing the same, while the otherof the controls serves to raise the blind starting from the lowermostslat thereof in a direction toward the header of the blind. With regardto the latter control considerable difliculty has been encountered owingto the fact that the blinds are raised and lowered by pulling upon apair of cords, each of which serves to elevate one end of the individualslats. In such construction, the cords travel over a plurality ofpulleys which serve only to change the direction of the force appliedupon the cords, without multiplying the said force. In the case ofrelatively large blinds this has called for considerable eifort on thepart of the person adjusting the blind, and owing to the fact that thepulleys employed are often very small in diameter there has been atendency for the cords to jam under load. Often this occurs in such amanner that it is necessary to dismantle part of the header in order toreach the portions of the cords which have become entangled.

Other difi'iculties have also accompanied prior structures of the typedescribed hereinabove. The blind is maintained in any position above itslowermost position solely by the engagement of a dog or claw whichengages the adjusting cords by digging into the same. The claw is notonly subject to slipping, but any substantial amount of blind adjustmentwill shorten the life of the cord itself owing to the deleterious effectof the claw. Further, users have tended to pull the cords in such amanner that one side of the blind will be raised to a degree higher thanthe other. extent by connecting the several cords together at a givenpoint, exact adjustment is diflicult, and owing to the fact that thecords stretch in unequal degrees during the life of the blind,relatively frequent adjustment is necessary.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention toprovide Venetian blind structure in which the above mentioneddisadvantages and objections have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention herein lies in the provision of Venetianblind structure in which the raising and lowering of a blind of a givensize will be easier for the user than in the .case when conventionalblinds of a similar size and configuration are employed.

Another object of the invention herein lies in the provision of Venetianblind structure in which the likelihood of slippage from a givenelevational adjustment has been substantially eliminated.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of Venetianblind structureof the class described in which lateral sides of theblind may be raised and lowered substantially equally, the possibilityof a blind While this may be overcome to some becoming lopsided inappearance being materially reduced.

A further object of the invention herein lies in the provision ofVenetian blind structure in which all cord pulleys disposed within theheader bar have been eliminated, to be replaced by a simple windingmechanism in which the slats are raised by means of planar tapes.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of Venetianblind structure having the desired qualities in which the cost offabrication may be of a relatively low order, with consequent widedistribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the use of flat tapes to raiseand lower the blinds, allowing substantially smaller slots in which theindividual blind slats are disposed in a direction parallel to theprincipal axis of the slats. This structure permits the slats to betilted to a greater degree and to be far more etficient in the controlof light passing through the blind, and also strengthens the slat to alarger extent.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the locking orunlocking of a blind in any given adjustment is performed in acompletely automatic manner, it being unnecessary to engage or disengagethe operating cord with a claw, hook or other similar device.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of thefollowing disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

On the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing an embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded view showing the engagement of theelevating tapes with a driven shaft which serves to elevate and lowerthe slats of the blind with respect to the header element, these partscomprising a portion of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective showing part ofthe raising and lowering means.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective showing the lowerportion of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from theplane 5-5 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane66 on Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an exploded view in perspective of certain parts from theassembled structure shown on Figure 6.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, comprises broadly: a header element 11, a blindelement 12, a blind tilting means 13 and a raising and lowering means14.

The header element 15 includes a supporting frame 15 preferably formedintegrally from metallic planar stock. The frame includes a facia boardmember 16, a bottom member 17, and a rear member 18, the frame beingreinforced by end braces 19 and 20. The frame 15 is also provided withmeans (not shown) for securing the same to a window frame in a wellknown manner.

The blind element 12 includes a plurality of forward tapes 25,corresponding rearward tapes 2a, the same being interconnected by aplurality of slat support members 27 spaced at uniform distances alongthe lengths of the tapes. The slats 28 may be formed from any desiredmaterial, although it has been found that thin extruded synthetic resinslats similar to the type shown on Figure 1 are useful. The lowermostslat 29 is of conventional form and is of heavier construction than theremaining slats 28 to provide sufiicient gravitational force to lowerthe blind when desired. A plurality of elevating tapes is disposedbetween the tapes 25 and 26, in a plane parallel to the principal axesof the slats 23, the same being preferably formed from thin flexiblematerial which does not stretch excessively. The slots 31 in the slats28 through which the tapes 35 pass are of elongated configuration, butare parallel to the axes of the slats, rather than at right anglesthereto, as is normally found in the conventional type blind. Thisincreases the strength of the slats.

The tilting element 13 includes a main shaft supported by angle brackets4-1 which are mounted upon the upper surface of the bottom member 17. Aplurality of drums 42 is provided for engagement with the tapes 25 and26, and the shaft 46 is rotated by means of a worm gear drive 43supported upon the upper surface of the bottom member 17 by means of abracket 44. A pulley 45, the rotational axis of which is disposed atright angles to the shaft 40, is driven by a cord 46 which passesthereover. Movement of either end of the cord 46 will cause the shaftit) and drums 42 thereon to rotate in either direction to result in thetilting of the slats 28.

The raising and lowering means 14 is connected with the elevating tapesSi in the manner indicated on Figure 2 of the drawings. The uppermostterminal of the tape 30 is engaged by a circular metallic clip 50 whichis slidably engageable within the slot 51 of the shaft 52. The shaft 52is disposed parallel to the shaft 40 and is supported by the brackets 41in a similar manner. There is also present on each side of each tape 3da smaller angle bracket 53, each having flanges 54 which serve to alignthe tapes 4-0 as they are wound about the portions of the shaft 52.

The blind element 12 is raised or lowered by means of a continuous cord57 which engages a pulley 58. Small aligning pulleys 55 and serve toposition the cord 57 away from the window (not shown) to facilitate thegrasp thereof by the user. The pulleys 59 and 6t] are disposed onpintles 62 and 63, in turn supported by the bracket 64, and aremaintained thereupon by a small retaining clip 61 which engages both thepintle 62 and the pintle 63. Where desired, the structure 5963 may beeliminated with its accompanying loss of function.

Secured to the bracket 64 which is mounted upon the bottom member 17 ofthe header element 11 is a housing 65 which partially encases andsupports the remaining parts of the element 14. The pulley 58 is mountedupon a pulley support '78, an extension 71 of which forms a bearingengaging a bracket extension 81. The extension 71 is provided with acutout portion 72 (see Figure 7). A centrally disposed bore 73 extendsthrough the entire length of the support 70. The spring engaging member74 is provided with a shaft portion 75 which extends through the bore 73to be secured by clip 69. A pin 76 extends partially into the cutoutportion 72, and as may be seen on Figure 6, the pin 76 does not extendradially to the diameter of the extension 71. There is thus provided aclearance, the purpose of which will become apparent later in thedisclosure. Owing to the engagement of the pin 76, the pulley support70, and the spring engaging member 74, they are in efiect keyedtogether, there being possible a small amount of play between 15 and 20through which the pulley support may be rotated without disturbing thespring engaging member 74-. The main portion 77 of the member '74 isprovided with an elongated slot 78, the plane of which extends throughthe principal axis of the same. A bearing surface 79 is engageable witha bearing 8b which supports the member 74 over a relatively small areathereof. The bracket extension 81, as has been mentioned, provides abearing for the pulley support extension 71 and extends so as topartially surround the spring engaging member 74 and supports thebearing fill. The locking spring 32 is disposed within the annularcavity formed therebetween, the same being of a coil type having aninner terminal disposed radially within the slot 78 and an outerterminal 84 disposed parallel to the principal axis. As may be seen onFigure 6, the terminal 84 extends into the cutout portion 72 and clearsthe pin 76 at all times. The spring 82 is of such configuration as tonormally grip the outer surface of the portion 77 when otherwiseunstressed.

The spring engaging member 74 is provided with a socket portion 35 inwhich the socket engaging portion 36 of the threaded governing member 87is positionable. Engaged with the threads of the member 87 and the innersurfaces of the housing 65 is a sliding nut member 85, which has a pathof travel coextensive with the length of the threads upon the member 87.Thus when the blind is in its lowermost position the member 88 will bedisposed with one surface thereof contacting the inner surface 89 of thehousing, and when the blind is in a fully raised condition the oppositesurface of the nut member 83 will contact the surface 99 of the springengaging member 74.

The innermost terminal of the governing member 87 is provided with asocket 91, in which the outer end of the shaft 52 is positionable, thesame being locked therein by means of a pin 92.

In raising or lowering the blind element 12 by the raising and loweringmeans 14, the endless cord 57 is pulled in either direction. This motionis transmitted to result in the rotation of the shaft 52 in either aclockwise or counterclockwise direction as seen on Figure 1, to resultin the lowering or raising, respectively of the tapes 30. When the blindis adjusted at any position other than its lowermost position there willbe a tendency for the same to wind down further under the action ofgravity. This motion is transmitted through the shaft 52, the member 87,and the member 74. As these members turn for a short distance the outerterminal 84 of the locking spring 32 moves in a clockwise direction asseen on Figure 7 until the same strikes the right hand surface of thecutout portion 72. Further rotation then causes the spring 82 actinglike a brake shoe to expand radially so that the outwardmost surface ofthe convolutions thereof contact the inwardly disposed surfaces of thebracket extension 81, acting as a stationary brake drum. The frictioncreated thereby arrests further rotation, and the blind position is nowlocked with respect to the window. If from this position it is desiredto further lower the blind, the pulley 58 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction as seen on Figure 3, which results in theshifting of the position of the cutout portion 72 in a clockwisedirection as seen on Figure 7. This motion serves to move the rightwardradially disposed surface of the cutout portion '72 away from the outerterminal 84, thus permitting the spring 82 to contract, whereby theouter surfaces of the convolutions come away from brake drum 81 and thenlose contact with the inner surface of the bracket extension 81. Thispermits the blind to be lowered, the spring 82 relocking upon thecessation of rotation of the pulley 58.

When it is desired to raise the blind element, the pulley 58 is rotatedin a clockwise direction as seen on Figure 3. In this case the pulleysupport extension 71 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seenon Figure 7 and the spring will be expanded so that the outer surfacesthereof contact the inner surfaces of the bracket extension 81. Thefriction encountered under these circumstances is overcome by thepositive driving force applied to the pulley 58, which through the pin76 transmits the motion to the shaft 52. When the blind has beenelevated to the desired position the friction caused by the spring 32retains the'same in this position.

It may be noted that the shaft 52 is positively driven from the pulley58 irrespective of the direction of travel of the tape 30. When it isdesired to lower the blind, for example, should the spring 82 becomejammed in its locked position for any reason, the left hand surface ofthe cutout portion 72 (see Figure 7) will strike the terminal 84,thereby returning the spring 82 to its reIatively unstressed condition.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly usefulimprovements in Venetian blind construction, in which there is providedan improved means for raising and lowering the blind portion of thedevice. By means of my structure, all internal cord linkages areomitted, to be replaced by a thoroughly reliable rotational linkageoflering increased ease in raising and lowering the blind portion.Provision is incorporated for limiting the degree to which the blindelement may be raised or lowered, thus preventing any undue damage inthe hands of an inexperienced user and preventing improper winding ofthe elevating tapes. The device may be fabricated using parts which maybe stamped or formed on automatic machines, it being unnecessary toemploy castings or other expensive machining. Where necessary, thedevice may be completely disassembled for the replacement of parts, andthe device is so constructed as to require a minimum of servicing duringits relatively long useful life. Owing to the fact that planar tapesrather than cords are employed to elevate the blind element, the slotsin the individual blind slats may be of small dimensions, and may haveaxes parallel to the principal axis of each slat, thereby assuringmaximum efficiency in light control and maximum strength of thin slats.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the exact details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the present invention pertains.

I claim:

Venetian blind structure comprising: a header element, a blind elementand raising and lowering means; said blind element including a pluralityof elongated slats; said raising and lowering means including arotatably mounted shaft disposed within said header element, a

plurality of tapes connected to said shaft and extending through slotsdisposed in each of said blind slats; means to rotate said shaft wherebysaid tapes may be wound upon the same and a locking mechanism forfrictionally fixing the position of said shaft upon its axis, saidmechanism including a bracket extension in the form of an outercylindrical member secured to said header element, a cylindricallyshaped pulley support, a reduced extension of which forms a bearingengaging and disposed within said bracket extension, said pulley supportat the extension thereof having a cut out portion, and having acentrally disposed bore extending through the length thereof, acylindrically shaped spring engaging member provided with a slot and areduced shaft portion which is rotatably disposed within said bore, andextending outwardly thereof to form a free terminal; a pin radiallyextending from said shaft portion and disposed within said out outportion, the effective circumferential width of said cut out portionbeing substantially greater than the diameter of said pin to affordslack rotational travel for said shaft portion, a coil spring disposedbetween the bracket extension and the spring support member, said springhaving an inner terminal disposed radially within said slot and an outerterminal arranged parallel to the principal axis of said spring andlocated within said out out portion, said spring being of aconfiguration to normally grip the outer surface of the springsupporting member when unstressed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,029,143 Wicks Jan. 28, 1936 2,149,481 Van Bosch et al Mar. 7, 19392,229,221 Pratt Jan. 21, 1941 2,231,778 Swanson Feb. 11, 1941 2,523,003Donop Sept. 19, 1950 2,579,144 Griesser Dec. 18, 1951

